Q1.What is the shelf life of the product and can it be used after 10 years of storage in a warehouse?
A1. Shelf life is essentially indefinite if the product is kept dry. Although we have never used DARAMEND that has been stored for such a long time, we believe that even after a long storage period the product would perform normally. For practical purposes, we recommend a maximum 3 year storage under cool, dry conditions.
Q2. Is the technology universal or does it need adjustments for each pollutant?
A2. The DARAMEND with ZVI technology does not require adjustment for each pollutant. It is suitable for most reductively treated compounds in its standard mode of application; however, a different formulation is used when the treatment objective is for stabilization of heavy metals. The Aerobic DARAMEND and TERRAMEND technologies are suited to the treatment of petroleum hydrocarbons and wood preservatives. For a list of compounds treated by product type, see http://www.adventusgroup.com/solutions/compounds-treated.shtml
Q3. Can the technology be used for polluted soil and water with more pollutants?
A3. Yes, we have re-formulated the DARAMEND product for groundwater injection applications. This product is called EHC® and is designed to enhance and promote reducing conditions for treatment of many chlorinated organic contaminants as well as heavy metals. For compounds requiring aerobic treatment in groundwater, we have developed EHC-O®; a proprietary oxygen release compound with nutrients and buffering agents.
Q4. What soil characteristics are required to use the technology?
A4. All true soils can be treated with this technology. DARAMEND has been successfully applied to soils with a wide range of physical and chemical properties, including wide variation in soil texture (i.e., sand/silt/clay content), organic matter content, and pH.
Q5. How is water delivered / supplied if the contaminated sites are far away from a water resource?
A5. Many methods may be used, including spray irrigation systems with sprinklers and the addition of water using tanker trucks. If water is particularly scarce, it may be useful to cover the soil to limit evaporation.
Q6. How to treat pure pesticide waste when applying this technology?
A6. DARAMEND is a soil treatment technology, most appropriate for treatment of large volumes of lightly to moderately contaminated soil, sediment, or other solid materials. Concentrations of common chlorinated pesticides up to about 10,000 mg/kg can be successfully treated, subject to the remedial standard that must be achieved. In most cases DARAMEND is not well-suited to treatment of pure pesticide wastes.
Q7. Is phytoremediation required after the application of the Daramend technology? If yes, what are the conditions of applications and the final objectives and time frames?
A7. Phytoremediation is not generally required following DARAMEND treatment. We have conducted toxicity testing on soils that have been remediated with DARAMEND and found that seed germination was equivalent to that observed in soil with no history of contamination (see: Tables 3 and 4 in: http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/lrpcd/site/reports/540r95536/540r95536a.pdf).
Q8. What is the percentage of detoxification in nature for organic pesticides especially for DDT and DDE?
A8. The degree of treatment depends on the starting concentrations and treatment goals. In general, overall removal rates up to about 95% can be achieved for most soil/contaminant combinations. Depending on concentrations and goals, removal rates much higher than 95% are more difficult and may not be economically achievable.
Q9. Can Daramend be used for a whole broad spectrum of all kind of pesticides? What if contaminated by fertilizers or herbicides?
A9. The pesticides we have the most confidence/experience in treating are listed here - http://www.adventusgroup.com/solutions/compounds-treated.shtml. However, we are certainly able to treat more compounds than this. Please inquire regarding specific compounds of interest. Fertilizers and many herbicides are easier to treat than the more recalcitrant organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) that DARAMEND treats so effectively.
Q10. Is your technology efficient for the treatment of DDT?
A10. Yes; performance data from another site where soils contained DDT is available at: http://www.adventusgroup.com/projects/daramend/th_agri_nutrition_site.shtml .
Q11. Is the technology only applicable on flat arable land? Is it also applicable on slopes?
A11. One of the keys to application of the technology is achieving very good soil mixing. If the soil can be adequately mixed and properly moistened on a slope without soil erosion, then the treatment can be applied at that site. Alternative designs have entailed physical transport of soils to temporary treatment facilities / pads. Multiple pads can be established, as needed.
Q12. Till what depth will the technology work? If only the topsoil is treated, what do you do with the soil, for example contaminated soil at 2m below ground level?
A12. Deeper soil can be treated either in-situ, with deep soil mixing equipment, or excavated and treated ex-situ, in batches.
Q13. What are the minimum and maximum contamination levels that can be treated?
A13. In general, all forms of bioremediation are most appropriate for treatment of lightly to moderately contaminated soils. Concentrations of common chlorinated pesticides and herbicides up to about 10,000 mg/kg can be successfully treated, subject to the remedial standard that must be achieved. If you provide some sample site data via the online template at http://www.adventusgroup.com/dara_site_eval.shtml we can confirm (non) treatability.
Q14. Is it necessary to know the type of contamination before treatment? i.e. organochlorines, carbamates and others ? If yes, does your technology require testing in advance for that?
A14. Yes, we need to know the type and concentration of contaminant present in order to ensure that the proper DARAMEND treatment approach is employed.
Q15. Are there contaminants that may be present at a site that could pose a threat to the success of the technology? E.g. certain herbicides, high levels of heavy metals or other factors/contaminants?
A15. Highly acid or alkaline soils will need to have the pH adjusted prior to treatment. High arsenic and cyanide levels may also prove problematic.
